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Page 181 - A LITTLE sun, a little rain, A soft wind blowing from the west   And woods and fields are sweet again, And warmth within the mountain's breast. So simple is the earth we tread, So quick with love and life her frame: Ten thousand years have dawned and fled, And still her magic is the same. A little love, a little trust, A soft impulse, a sudden dream  And life as dry as desert dust Is fresher than a mountain stream. So simple is the heart of man, So ready for new hope and joy: Ten thousand...

Page 161 - And she longed for him more than a wounded man, Who sees death, longs for water. They sent a message each to each : " Oh, meet me near or far ; " And the ford divided the kingdoms two, And the kings were both at war. And the Prince came first to the water's pass, And oh, he thought no ill : When he saw with pain a great gray man Come striding o'er the hill.

Page 85 - Ere we go home We'll have,' they said, 'a game.' Three girls began that Summer night A life of endless shame ; And went through drink, disease and death, As swift as racing flame. Lawless and homeless, foul, they died ; Rich, loved, and praised the men ; But when they all shall meet with God, And Justice speaks  what then...

Page 163 - Ulster a tablet made From the wood of Baile's tree, And the men of Leinster did the like Of Aillinn's apple-tree. And on the one the poets wrote The lover-tales of Leinster, And on the other all the deeds That lovers wrought in Ulster. Now when a hundred years had gone The King of all the land Kept feast at Tara, and he bade His poets sing a strand. They sang the sweet unhappy tale, The noble Aillinn's lay. Go, bring the tablets,' cried the King,

Page 164 - Go, bring the tablets,' cried the King ' For I have wept to-day.' But when he held in his right hand The wood of I'.aile's tree And in his left the tablet smooth From Aillinn's apple-tree, The lovers in the wood who kept Love-longing ever true, Knew one another, and at once From the hands of the king they flew. As ivy to the oak they clung. Their kiss no man could sever  Oh, joy for lovers parted long To meet, at last, for ever...

Page 225 - Lines IN the day the sun is darkened, And the moon as blood, And the earth is swept to ruin On the avenging flood, Come to me Then give thyself To my arms and kiss; We shall not know that all is lost, So great shall be our bliss.

Page 163 - ... loving thee." Pale, pale she grew, and two large tears Dropped down like heavy rain, And she fell to earth with a woeful cry, For she broke her heart in twain. And out of her tears two fountains rose That watered all the ground, And out of her heart an apple-tree grew That heard the water's sound. Oh, woe were the kings, and woe were the queens And woe were the people all ; And the poets sang their love and their death In cottage and in hall. And the men of Ulster a tablet made From the wood...